Friday, March 14, 2014

New Pioneer Co-op has been providing the Iowa City corridor with fresh, organic, and locally grown food since 1971. For decades, they have paved the way for other Iowa markets interested in providing their own communities with local, organic food. Today, New Pi has expanded to be more than just a grocery store. The market has grown, and New Pi plans to open a new store in Cedar Rapids early next year. The University of Iowa Press asked Jenifer Angerer, the marketing manager, some questions about the expansion, what New Pi offers its members, and the future of buying local and organic.

Why do you think supplying the community with
locally and regionally grown food is important?

When you support your local farmers and producers, you are putting
your money back in to the community in which you live. You are also reducing
the carbon footprint your food consumption leaves on the planet, and local food
is about as fresh as you can get (short of growing it yourself). Iowa is one of
the world’s largest producers of agricultural crops, yet we import over 90% of
the food we eat. In Iowa, we don’t grow many crops for human consumption, and
we’d love to see that focus shift.

Why do you think there has been an increase in
demand for local and organic foods in the past few years? Do you think the
trend will continue or level off?

Community concern and awareness about “where their food comes from”
continues to expand into the mainstream and we believe this trend will
continue. With global warming and other environmental issues continuing to be a
major concern for the world, finding ways to improve our collective carbon
footprint will continue to grow.

The dishes on
your food blog look delicious! Who writes the posts and makes the dishes? Does
everything come from food available at New Pi?

Thank you! Our Catalyst newsletter Editor, Allison Gnade,
writes and cooks most of the posts, though other staff members and co-op member-owners contribute to the blog as
well. Our Co-op community is deep in food knowledge and, at this time when
cooking knowledge is disappearing, it seems like a shame not to share what we
know. And yes, the great ingredients come from the Co-op shelves. Flavorful
ingredients make it easy to put a delicious meal on the table! We love sharing
hidden gems from the store, like our 32-Bean Soup Mix, cooking
seasonally, and sharing cooking tips and tricks.

Can you tell us more about the Earth Source Gardens? What's growing there now?

Earth Source Gardens is a community garden offering over 60 garden
plots to New Pioneer member-owners, who have the opportunity to sign up
annually for a plot to grow annual vegetables and flowers organically (plot registration is available through March 25!). New Pioneer has planted orchards, berry bushes, and annual
demonstration plots in the garden for community enjoyment and education as
well. Everyone’s welcome to community Garden Parties during the summer – stay tuned for our Equinox party in June – we’d love to see you there!

"Joshua Doležal traces the map of his life with the instincts of a poet and the sure direction of a cartographer. Intimate and lyrical, his story is one of fallen faith, found love, and the way we must sometimes circle back to find what we have lost."—Kim Barnes, author, In the Wilderness: Coming of Age in Unknown Country

"Down from the Mountaintop is a tender and generous memoir of a boy's awakening into young manhood. Joshua Doležal's luminous prose evokes the natural beauty of western Montana, the spirituality implicit in that beauty, and the complexities and enduring power in the bonds of family."—Mary Clearman Brew, author, This Is Not the Ivy League

Monday, March 10, 2014

The Food and Agriculture Organization has declared 2014 the
Year of Family Farming with the aim of highlighting the important role family and small farms
play in feeding the world. To do our part, throughout 2014 we are featuring
some of our favorite images and words from Iowa books on family farms. Here’s
the latest!

“My father’s farm expresses well the essence of him. It’s
some of the state’s best land, on a flat, narrow ridge that the topographer
would represent with a southeast line between the parallel meanderings of the
Des Moines and the Skunk rivers, safe from floods and perfectly sloped for
draining rains…. He inherited its advantages, but has immaculately maintained
them, taking no risks with the way he’s used his land.”

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Established in 1969, the University of Iowa Press is a well-regarded academic publisher serving scholars, students, and readers throughout the world with works of poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction. As the only university press in the state, Iowa is also dedicated to preserving the literature, history, culture, wildlife, and natural areas of the Midwest.
For scholars and students, we publish reference and course books in the areas of archaeology, American studies, American history, literary studies, theatre studies, and the craft of writing.
For general readers, we publish the winners of the Iowa Short Fiction Award and the Iowa Poetry Prize, poetry anthologies, books on the archaeology and natural history of the Midwest, cookbooks, letters and diaries, biographies, memoirs, regional history, and collections of historic and contemporary photographs.
The Press is a member of the AAUP and Green Press Initiative.

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Recognizing the richness of our midwestern heritage, Bur Oak Books, named after the state tree of Iowa, represent the University of Iowa Press’s dedication to preserving the literature, history, geography, and culture of our region. Bur Oak Guides assist your exploration and enjoyment of the natural environment of the Midwest.

If you have an idea for the next Bur Oak Book or Guide, please send it to Holly Carver at holly-carver@uiowa.edu.